Olympics trials: Adarsh Singh, Manu Bhaker top qualifications

Bhopal, May 13

Manu Bhaker and Adarsh Singh emerged winners in the qualification rounds of the women’s 25m pistol and men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol events, respectively, in the Olympics trials here today. All five shooters in both the men’s and women’s categories will now clash in the final tomorrow.

Anish Bhanwala took a healthy four-point lead from the first precision stage into the second rapid-fire stage, only to be pipped by Adarsh on countback after both posted scores of 583 with the same number of 24 hits in the inner-10 ring.

Ankur Goel too shot the same score but had 10 fewer hits in the inner ring, while Vijayveer Sidhu clinched fourth with 581, scoring just one inner-10 more than Bhavesh Shekhawat.

Olympian Manu defeated Esha Singh on inner-10s after both shot an identical 586. Rhythm Sangwan came in third while Abhidnya Patil (582) and Simranpreet Kaur Brar (564) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

On pure calculations and taking the best of three scores, Manu and Esha take the top two spots in the women’s event, while Anish and Vijayveer are 1-2 in the men’s event, irrespective of what happens in the finals.